Practical applications of the anti-anxiety diet for the everyday cook.

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Recipe! Pumpkin-Turkey Chili

When I saw a recipe for Pumpkin Turkey Chili, it tickled my taste buds and my imagination. Why? Because few things comfort in the winter cold like chili, but the bright, smooth taste of pumpkin could only make chili all the better. Not to mention the flavors and spices that could be used...! So that's how it started. I picked up the necessary ingredients and I went to work, only I followed the recipe I found on Whole Foods for about ten seconds before I started deviating all over the place and eventually, somehow, made my own dish.

Thus, the following recipe has a rather long list of ingredients...rest assured, most of them are spices and seasonings. You can (and will, I'm sure) adjust various spices and seasonings to make the chili to your taste, but at the end you will have a pleasantly sweet-hot chili, silky smooth with great, delicious pieces of turkey, onion, tomato and green pepper and two different, delectable beans. My version was fairly spicy...for a tamer chili, leave out some of the pepper and be judicious with your sriracha.

The best thing about this chili is that its as healthy as it is delicious. Ground turkey is a lean meat, together with legumes this chili packs a protein punch that's awesome for building calorie-burning lean muscle. Also, pumpkin is one of the world's healthiest foods, with a very low calorie content and a high vitamin content. And while we're on the subject of the world's healthiest foods, black beans, kidney beans, green bell peppers, onions, and turkey make the list as well.

Healthy and a crowd pleaser...what's not to love? Without further ado....Pumpkin Turkey Chili

1. Cook turkey in a dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat until just brown. Add onions and garlic and reduce heat to medium. Continue to cook, stirring regularly, until onions are just translucent (you may season meat and onions with some of the salt, pepper, chili powder, and cumin and half the brown sugar if you want to enhance the flavor). Add green pepper, jalapenos, cook for about five minutes.

2. Add tomatoes, pumpkin, 2 cups of the broth, and beans. Stir until blended, then add the remaining seasonings. Stir well and add reserved broth if necessary to achieve desired consistency. Allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring often and adjusting seasonings for flavor.

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About Me

The Calm Cook is a writer from the Midwest who has been using the anti-anxiety diet since December of 2009. She is not a doctor, nor a nutritionist, and has come by her information through large amounts of research. Thus her opinions and suggestions should not be taken over the opinions and suggestions of your doctor or health professional. The Calm Cook writes this blog in order to help others through her own experiences with anxiety and diet. All thoughts herein are (well-researched) opinion and should be regarded as such.
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